Now Commenting On:

Bullpen's dominance represented in Tuesday's win

Bullpen's dominance represented in Tuesday's win

8/20/13: Joe Smith strikes out Chris Nelson swinging on a breaking ball for the final out of the bottom of the eighth, stranding two runners

By Jordan Bastian
/
MLB.com |

ANAHEIM -- The Indians could have promoted a pitcher from the Minors on Wednesday to help their fatigued bullpen, and manager Terry Francona said there was a flight that could have got the player to the West Coast in time for the club's game against the Angels.

Following Tuesday's 14-inning victory, which included nine pitchers used against the Angels, Francona did not feel it was necessary to bring another reliever to Orange County.

"We could have," Francona said prior to Wednesday's game. "It's just, we have a day off tomorrow, and to be honest with you, I just think we want to try to get through today. I would've had a hard time sending somebody down after last night. I think that sends the wrong message."

Following 5 1/3 strong innings from starter Danny Salazar, the Indians cycled through all eight of their relievers, who helped Cleveland string together 13 shutout innings after the Angels scored in the first. The relief corps turned in 8 2/3 scoreless frames, lowering the bullpen ERA to 1.38 through the first eight games of this nine-game road trip.

Cleveland's bullpen has fashioned a 2.73 ERA over the team's past 38 games, dating back to July 8.

One of the bullpen's specialities of late has been stranded inherited runners.

During the road trip, Cleveland's relievers had stranded 22 of 23 inherited runners entering Wednesday. The Indians' 89.1 stranded percentage in August was the second-best mark in the Major Leagues. The Tribe's season stranded rate of 73.6 percent was the third-best mark in the American League behind only the Yankees and Blue Jays.

Indians lefty Rich Hill entered Wednesday ranked first in the AL with the most inherited runners stranded (50), and he led Cleveland's bullpen by stranding 86 percent.